Connecticut State Department of Public Health


CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES
CHAPTER 383b
CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS
 
      Sec. 20-195m. Definitions. As used in subsection (c) of section 19a-14, section 19a-18, sections 20-195n to 20-195q, inclusive, sections 20-195s to 20-195u, inclusive, and this section:
 
      (1) "Licensed clinical social worker" means a person who has been licensed as a clinical social worker pursuant to this chapter;
 
      (2) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Public Health;
 
      (3) "Department" means the Department of Public Health;
 
      (4) "Clinical social work" means the application, by persons trained in social work, of established principles of psychosocial development, behavior, psychopathology, unconscious motivation, interpersonal relationships and environmental stress to the evaluation, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of biopsychosocial dysfunction, disability and impairment, including mental, emotional, behavioral, developmental and addictive disorders, of individuals, couples, families or groups. Clinical social work includes, but is not limited to, counseling, psychotherapy, behavior modification and mental health consultation;
 
      (5) "Licensed master social worker" means a person who has been licensed as a master social worker pursuant to this chapter;
 
      (6) "Independent practice" means the practice of clinical social work without supervision;
 
      (7) "Under professional supervision" means the practice of clinical social work under the supervision of a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 370, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to chapter 378, a psychologist licensed pursuant to chapter 383, a marital and family therapist licensed pursuant to chapter 383a, a clinical social worker licensed pursuant to this chapter or a professional counselor licensed pursuant to chapter 383c; and
 
      (8) "Professional supervision" means face-to-face consultation between one supervisor, who is a person described in subdivision (7) of this section, and one person receiving supervision that consists of not less than a monthly review, a written evaluation and assessment by the supervisor of such person's practice of clinical social work.
 
      Sec. 20-195n. Licensure requirements. License by endorsement. (a) No person shall practice clinical social work unless such person has obtained a license pursuant to this section.
 
      (b) An applicant for licensure as a master social worker shall: (1) Hold a master's degree from a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or, if educated outside the United States or its territories, have completed an educational program deemed equivalent by the council; and (2) pass the masters level examination of the Association of Social Work Boards or any other examination prescribed by the commissioner.
 
      (c) An applicant for licensure as a clinical social worker shall: (1) Hold a doctorate or master's degree from a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or, if educated outside the United States or its territories, have completed an educational program deemed equivalent by the council; (2) have three thousand hours post-master's social work experience which shall include not less than one hundred hours of work under professional supervision by a licensed clinical or certified independent social worker, provided on and after October 1, 2011, such hours completed in this state shall be as a licensed master social worker; and (3) pass the clinical level examination of the Association of Social Work Boards or any other examination prescribed by the commissioner. On and after October 1, 1995, any person certified as an independent social worker prior to October 1, 1995, shall be deemed licensed as a clinical social worker pursuant to this section, except a person certified as an independent social worker on and after October 1, 1990, shall not be deemed licensed as a clinical social worker pursuant to this chapter unless such person has satisfied the requirements of subdivision (3) of this subsection.
 
      (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the commissioner may grant a license by endorsement to an applicant who presents evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (1) is licensed or certified as a master social worker or clinical social worker in good standing in another state or jurisdiction whose requirements for practicing in such capacity are substantially similar to or higher than those of this state, and (2) has successfully completed the master level examination of the Association of Social Work Boards, or its successor organization, or any other examination prescribed by the commissioner. No license shall be issued under this subsection to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.
 
      (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, the commissioner may grant a license by endorsement to an applicant who presents evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant (1) is licensed or certified as a clinical social worker in good standing in another state or jurisdiction whose requirements for practicing in such capacity are substantially similar to or higher than those of this state, and (2) has successfully completed the clinical level examination of the Association of Social Work Boards, or its successor organization, or any other examination prescribed by the commissioner. No license shall be issued under this subsection to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint.

     (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, an applicant who is licensed or certified as a clinical social worker or its equivalent in another state, territory or commonwealth of the United States may substitute three years of licensed or certified work experience in the practice of clinical social work in lieu of the requirements of subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section, provided the commissioner finds that such experience is equal to or greater than the requirements of this state.
      Sec. 20-195o. Application for and renewal of license. Fees. Licensure without examination. (a) Application for licensure shall be on forms prescribed and furnished by the commissioner. Each applicant shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that he or she has met the requirements of section 20-195n. The application fee for a clinical social worker license shall be three hundred fifteen dollars. The application fee for a master social worker license shall be two hundred twenty dollars.     
 
      (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 20-195n concerning examinations, on or before October 1, 2015, the commissioner may issue a license without examination, to any master social worker applicant who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioner that, on or before October 1, 2013, he or she held a master's degree from a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or, if educated outside the United States or its territories, completed an educational program deemed equivalent by the council.
 
      (c) Each person licensed pursuant to this chapter may apply for renewal of such licensure in accordance with the provisions of subsection (e) of section 19a-88. A fee of one hundred ninety dollars shall accompany each renewal application for a licensed master social worker or a licensed clinical social worker. Each such applicant shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the commissioner of having satisfied the continuing education requirements prescribed in section 20-195u.
 
      Sec. 20-195p. Disciplinary action. Grounds. The commissioner may take any action set forth in section 19a-17 if the license holder fails to conform to the accepted standards of the social work profession, including, but not limited to, the following: Conviction of a felony; fraud or deceit in obtaining or seeking reinstatement of a license to practice clinical social work; fraud or deceit in the practice of social work; negligent, incompetent or wrongful conduct in professional activities; emotional disorder or mental illness; physical illness, including, but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process; abuse or excessive use of drugs, including alcohol, narcotics or chemicals; wilful falsification of entries in any hospital, patient or other record pertaining to social work; violation of any provision of this chapter or any regulation adopted hereunder. The Commissioner of Public Health may order a license holder to submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination if his physical or mental capacity to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. Said commissioner may petition the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order or any action taken pursuant to said section 19a-17. Notice of any contemplated action under said section 19a-17, of the cause therefor and the date of hearing thereon, shall be given and an opportunity for hearing afforded as provided in the regulations adopted by the commissioner.
 
      Sec. 20-195q. Use of title. Certain activities not prohibited. (a) No person shall (1) use the title "licensed master social worker" or any initials associated with such title, or (2) advertise services under the description of a licensed master social worker, as defined in section 20-195m, unless such person is licensed as a master social worker pursuant to this chapter.
 
      (b) No person shall (1) use the title "licensed clinical social worker" or any initials associated with such title, or (2) advertise services under the description of a licensed clinical social worker, as defined in section 20-195m, unless such person is licensed as a clinical social worker pursuant to this chapter.
 
      (c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit: (1) A student enrolled in a doctoral or master's degree program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education from performing such work as is incidental to his course of study, provided such person is designated by a title which clearly indicates his status as a student; (2) a person licensed or certified in this state in a field other than clinical social work from practicing within the scope of such license or certification; (3) a person enrolled in an educational program or fulfilling other state requirements leading to licensure or certification in a field other than social work from engaging in work in such other field; (4) a person who is employed or retained as a social work designee, social worker, or social work consultant by a nursing home or rest home licensed under section 19a-490 and who meets the qualifications prescribed by the department in its regulations from performing the duties required of them in accordance with state and federal laws governing those duties; (5) for the period from October 1, 2010, to October 1, 2013, inclusive, a master social worker from engaging in independent practice; (6) a social worker from practicing community organization, policy and planning, research or administration that does not include engaging in clinical social work or supervising a social worker engaged in clinical treatment with clients; and (7) individuals with a baccalaureate degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education accredited program from performing nonclinical social work functions.
 
      Sec. 20-195r. Use of title by certain persons employed by the state in the classified service prior to October 1, 1996. Nothing in sections 20-195 to 20-195q, inclusive, shall prevent any person employed by the state prior to October 1, 1996, with a title in the social work series of the classified service from using a title in such series to describe or perform his duties in the course of his employment with the state.
 
      Sec. 20-195s. Scope of practice. (a) An individual licensed as a master social worker pursuant to section 20-195n may: (1) Practice clinical social work under professional supervision; and (2) offer a mental health diagnosis provided such diagnosis is offered in consultation with a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 370, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to chapter 378, a psychologist licensed pursuant to chapter 383, a marital and family therapist licensed pursuant to chapter 383a, a professional counselor licensed pursuant to chapter 383c or a clinical social worker licensed pursuant to this chapter. Except as provided in subsection (c) of section 20-195q, a licensed master social worker may not engage in independent practice.
 
      (b) An individual licensed as a clinical social worker pursuant to section 20-195n may practice clinical social work. A licensed clinical social worker may perform all functions of a licensed master social worker and, in addition, may engage in independent practice.
 
      Sec. 20-195t. Issuance of temporary permit to practice as a master social worker. The department may issue a temporary permit to an applicant for licensure as a master social worker who holds a master's degree from a social work educational program, as described in section 20-195n, but who has not yet taken the licensure examination prescribed in said section 20-195n. Such temporary permit shall authorize the holder to practice as a master social worker as provided for in section 20-195s. Such temporary permit shall be valid for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty calendar days after the date of attaining such master's degree and shall not be renewable. Such permit shall become void and shall not be reissued in the event that the applicant fails to pass such examination. The fee for a temporary permit shall be fifty dollars.
 
      Sec. 20-195u. Continuing education requirements: Record-keeping; exemptions; waivers; reinstatement of void licenses. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, each clinical social worker, licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and, on and after October 1, 2011, each master social worker licensed pursuant to this chapter shall complete a minimum of fifteen hours of continuing education during each registration period. For purposes of this section, "registration period" means the twelve-month period for which a license has been renewed in accordance with section 19a-88 and is current and valid.
 
(b) Continuing education required pursuant to this section shall be related to the practice of social work and shall include not less than one contact hour of training or education each registration period on the topic of cultural competency and, on and after January 1, 2016, not less than two contact hours of training or education during the first renewal period in which continuing education is required and not less than once every six years thereafter on the topic of mental health conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans, including (1) determining whether a patient is a veteran or family member of a veteran, (2) screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (3) suicide prevention training. Such continuing education shall consist of courses, workshops and conferences offered or approved by the Association of Social Work Boards, the National Association of Social Workers or a school or department of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. A licensee's ability to engage in on-line and home study continuing education shall be limited to not more than six hours per registration period. Within the registration period, an initial presentation by a licensee of an original paper, essay or formal lecture in social work to a recognized group of fellow professionals may account for five hours of continuing education hours of the aggregate continuing education requirements prescribed in this section.
 
      (c) Each licensee shall obtain a certificate of completion from a provider of the continuing education for all continuing education hours that are successfully completed and shall retain such certificate for a minimum of three years following the license renewal date for which the activity satisfies the continuing education requirement. Upon request by the department, the licensee shall submit such certificate to the department. A licensee who fails to comply with the continuing education requirements prescribed in this section may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to section 20-195p.
 
      (d) A person licensed pursuant to this chapter who holds a professional educator certificate that is endorsed for school social work and issued by the State Board of Education pursuant to sections 10-144o to 10-149, inclusive, may satisfy the continuing education requirements contained in this section by successfully completing professional development activities pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (l) of section 10-145b, provided the number of continuing education hours completed by such person is equal to the number of hours per registration period required by this section.
 
      (e) A licensee applying for the first time for license renewal pursuant to section 20-195o shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements of this section. The department may, for a licensee who has a medical disability or illness, grant a waiver of the continuing education requirements or may grant such licensee an extension of time in which to fulfill the requirements, provided the licensee submits to the department an application for waiver or extension of time on a form prescribed by the department along with any documentation required by the department. The department may grant a waiver or extension not to exceed one registration period, except that the department may grant additional waivers or extensions if the initial reason for the waiver or extension continues beyond the period of the waiver or extension. A waiver of the continuing education requirement may be granted by the department to a licensee who is not engaged in social work during a given continuing education registration period, provided the licensee submits a waiver request prior to the expiration of the continuing education period, on a form prescribed by the department.
 
      (f) Any licensee granted a waiver of the continuing education requirements pursuant to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section shall be required to complete seven hours of continuing education not later than six months from the date on which such licensee returned to active practice. In addition, such licensee shall comply with the certificate of completion requirements prescribed in subsection (c) of this section.
 
      (g) Any licensee whose license has become void pursuant to the provisions of subsection (f) of section 19a-88, who applies to the department for reinstatement of such license, shall submit with such application evidence documenting that such applicant has successfully completed seven hours of continuing education within the one-year period immediately preceding the date of application for reinstatement.
 
      Sec. 20-195v. Implementation of licensure requirements relating to master social workers by the Department of Public Health. The Department of Public Health shall only be required to implement the provisions of this chapter as relate to the licensure of master social workers, if appropriations are available for such implementation.